Magic Bullets: Chemistry vs. Cancer

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    In a Puff of Smoke:
    What Gets in Your Lungs

    The list of substances in tobacco and tobacco smoke is extensive, and many of the components are outside the awareness of most student. Further, many of the materials are present in quantities so small that it would be misleading to focus on them. If you would like students to develop short profiles of other components of tobacco or tobacco smoke as a way to make them aware of the chemical information resources available, here are more complete lists of these substances:

      Lists of Chemicals Found in Tobacco — part of "The Truth about Tobacco" from the Utah State Department of Health.

      Chemicals in Tobacco — from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

      Chemicals in Environmental Tobacco Smoke — focused on second-hand smoke, from the Virginia Group to Alleviate Smoking in Public, Inc.

      Chemicals Found in Tobacco Smoke — from the Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.

    If you prefer a briefer assessment tool, then a short quiz on the material in the activity might be helpful.

    Matching Quiz

    Match the numbered tobacco smoke component with the lettered term that best describes it.

      1. carbon monoxide

      2. tar

      3. nicotine

      4. nitrosamines

      5. cadmium

        A. mixture rather than single substance

        B. one of 13 metals found in tobacco

        C. automobile exhaust fumes

        D. addictive

        E. NNN and NNK

      Answers: 1-C  2-A  3-D  4-E  5-B

    For more information, at other Web sites...

      9th Report on Carcinogens 2000 — from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Toxicology Program.

    Relevant National Science Education Standards

      Physical Science — The activity reinforces the molecular nature of matter with molecular structures for the compounds involved.

      Science in Personal and Social Perspectives — The activity involves a public and personal health question regarding smoking and its effects on respiratory health.

    Relevant New Jersey State Science Education Standards

      5.6 The activity reinforces the molecular nature of matter with molecular structures for the compounds involved.

     

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    Bibliography

      Respiration — part of the website Pulmonology from Universiteit Maastricht.

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